Michael Broomhead

A young man accused of unlawfully killing Chris Henchliffe has told a jury he 'threw a punch' at the former soldier as he feared he was going to harm his friend.

Benjamin Edwards, 22, is on trial charged with the manslaughter of 26-year-old Mr Henchliffe, who died in hospital nine days after an incident outside the Pomegranate Theatre in Corporation Street, Chesterfield, last summer.

The trial is being heard at Nottingham Crown Court.

Giving evidence at Nottingham Crown Court today, Edwards told how he was in Moo Bar in Corporation Street with four of his friends, Joseph Whittaker, James Wisternoff, Paddy Weston and Mick Loftus, during the early hours of July 3 last year.

He said he was 'merry, happy and having a really good night, a lovely night' but would not describe himself as drunk.

Edwards claimed Mr Henchliffe, who was also in Moo Bar on a night out with friends, 'launched' a drink at Joseph Whittaker and a girl, Clarissa Wisternoff, before a bouncer 'ejected' Mr Henchliffe.

Edwards, who works in customer service, said: "I thought the lads were going home so I went outside and had a chat with them.

"I saw James Wisternoff having a conversation with a man so I went over and stood by him - I didn't know it was the guy from the bar (Mr Henchliffe), I thought he was James's friend.

"They were mentioning the spilt drink and at that point it became clear the man was the guy from the bar.

"The conversation started to get a little bit heated - he was boasting about being military trained and puffing out his chest.

"When Clarissa came across, she said, 'why did you do that?' referring to the spilt drink.

"He asked her why she got him chucked out and he kept saying, 'lying b***h'.

"I didn't say a word throughout this and I had my hands in my pockets."

Edwards said there was 'a bit of a scuffle' between 6ft 5ins Mr Henchliffe and Mr Wisternoff before Terry Goodwin, a Moo Bar doorman, led Mr Wisternoff away up the road.